How can we encourage others to "take the free gift of the water"? Listening to the Final Invitation “ ‘The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.’ ” —Revelation 22:17 The Lord’s parting word in Scripture is an open-armed appeal. He wants every believer to join Him in echoing that appeal to a parched world. Ways We Can Echo the Invitation • Show we have drunk deeply ourselves – Daily delight in Christ’s Word (Psalm 1:2–3) so people sense real refreshment. • Speak the gospel plainly and regularly – “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) – Keep the focus on grace, not performance. • Use Scripture that pictures spiritual thirst – Isaiah 55:1 “Come, all you who are thirsty…” – John 4:10–14 “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst.” – John 7:37–38 “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” • Extend a personal, specific invitation – “Would you like to read the Gospel of John with me?” – “Can I share how Jesus quenched my thirst?” • Model kindness that lowers defenses – Simple hospitality, listening well, remembering names. • Remove stumbling blocks where possible – Clarify misconceptions about hypocrisy, legalism, or past hurts. • Pray for the Spirit’s drawing power – Only He can create true thirst (John 16:8). Connecting Passages that Reinforce the Offer • Revelation 21:6 “ ‘To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.’ ” • Ephesians 2:8–9 “It is by grace you have been saved… not by works.” • 1 John 5:11–12 “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” Thread these verses into conversations so people see that free grace is a consistent biblical theme. Practical Conversation Starters • Ask about felt needs: “What do you think would finally satisfy you long-term?” • Share your own story in three sentences: life before Christ, how you met Him, life now. • Offer to pray for a specific concern on the spot; afterward explain the Source of hope. • Invite friends to gatherings where Scripture is opened (home study, church, meal with believers). Creating a Culture of Welcome in the Church • Greeters who remember faces and follow up. • Clear, jargon-free explanations of the gospel in every service. • Baptism testimonies highlighting the “free gift” motif. • Visible opportunities to join small groups immediately. Living Parables of Living Water • Bring bottled water to a community event and attach John 4:14 tags. • Support missions that dig wells and share the gospel together (James 2:15–16). • Host “Taste and See” dinners where believers cook favorite dishes and weave in Psalm 34:8. Guarding the Purity of the Message • Avoid adding costs Jesus never required (Acts 15:10–11). • Keep the cross central; no substitute can cleanse sin (1 Corinthians 2:2). • Celebrate grace regularly in worship songs, testimony nights, and Lord’s Supper observance. Encouragement for Everyday Life Every “Come!” you speak may feel small, yet Revelation 22:17 assures that the Spirit speaks with you. Whether over coffee, in a text, from a pulpit, or through an act of service, keep heralding the free water of life. Someone thirsty is listening. |
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